Source: Vallejo Times Herald
(includes material from San Francisco Chronicle)
A gay Vallejo city councilman won the mayor's race by four votes on Tuesday, just hours after apologizing for his weekend arrest for public intoxication after drinking too much at a bar in Palm Springs.
Gary Cloutier beat former Solano County Supervisor Osby Davis by a hair-thin 5,722 to 5,718 votes, according to final results from the Nov. 6 election. Solano County Assistant Registrar of Voters Lindsey McWilliams said he expects to certify the results as final on Monday.
Davis, 62, a real estate attorney who aimed to become the city's first African American mayor, said Tuesday that he will ask for a recount.
Assistant Registrar of Voters Lindsey McWilliams said all ballots have been counted.
He said results still must be certified to be declared "official." He said results will be certified by Monday.
The final tally in the extremely close mayoral race "might change, but only if we find ballots we didn't anticipate, which is unlikely," McWilliams said.
Cloutier made a brief statement Tuesday afternoon in front of Georgia Street Grill saying the extremely close race for Vallejo's top political chair is testament to the power of Democracy.
"If this election says anything, it's that every vote counts," Cloutier said.
"I'm elated by the results," Cloutier, 45, said in a brief phone interview with San Francisco Chronicle. He said he would not declare victory before the election is certified. Unless the outcome changes, Cloutier is set to become the first openly gay mayor in the Bay Area.
Just two hours before the results were announced, Cloutier issued an apology for his weekend public intoxication arrest in Palm Springs
At a morning press conference before more than 100 people at City Hall in downtown Vallejo, Cloutier delivered a short statement that he was sorry for being drunk in public, calling it a "foolish mistake" and stressing he takes the issue seriously.
He left without taking questions called out by reporters. Several television news stations were present as well as supporters and detractors.
Full article: Vallejo Times Herald - Cloutier edges out Davis for Vallejo mayor, Davis asks for recount
More details: Cloutier apologizes, wins mayor's race
Last modified: 20 Nov 07 10:10
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